Honduras Health Insurance Guide

The costs of medical care in Honduras are relatively inexpensive when compared to those that might be found in the 1st world. Similarly, the overall quality of care, with the exception of perhaps a couple of major medical institutions, is not of relatively high quality. The most important aspect of having Honduras health insurance may not be so much covering the costs of care as it is ensuring access to care. This is where possessing an International Health Insurance plan like those that Pacific Prime specializes in can be critical. Read on to find out more.

Honduras Health Insurance Cover for Expats

If you are an expatriate living in Honduras, you have several options when it comes to addressing healthcare costs. You can pay out of pocket, which may be the cheapest option if you are a healthy person that is fortunate enough not to have any major medical issues over the course of a year. However, it can also be the most costly option if a condition arises that is particularly expensive to treat. You could choose a local Honduras health insurance plan, but this type of plan will limit your coverage to care received inside of Honduras, and as you will read in the section below, reliable access to care has been an issue inside of the country in over the past several years. For these reasons, it is important that you secure an international private medical insurance plan if you are an expat in Honduras due to the unique features such a plan offers, including emergency evacuation and repatriation benefits, as well as comprehensive inpatient and outpatient coverage in any country around the world.

Honduras Health Insurance and Healthcare Overview

In recent years, the Honduras healthcare system has been in disarray, and as such those traveling to the country should take measures to ensure that they can receive medical care both inside and outside of the country. Some have even gone so far as to say that the Honduran healthcare system has collapsed outright. This comes after the Honduras Ministry of Health stopped paying the salaries of doctors across the country in early 2015, who in turn went on strike. As such, there have been extended periods where only emergency care has been available at public hospitals. Not only do the doctors want the pay that they are owed, but they want raises across the board to account for inflation.

On the patient side of things, Honduras is not a wealthy country, and corruption in the healthcare system in recent years has lead to a situation where people without the money for medical care must sometimes leave the hospital without receiving treatment, as hundreds of millions of dollars had been embezzled from the social security system. Social security in the country had previously supplied healthcare to over 1.6 million people.

When the system is fully staffed, funded and running properly, however, it can meet the standards of many. Many doctors in the system are trained in the U.S., so they are up-to-date on medical procedures and speak English well. Large healthcare centers in major cities can provide an excellent quality of care, but medical facilities in more rural parts of the country may only be able to properly address minor injuries and illnesses. This is why have Honduras health insurance with global coverage and an emergency medical evacuation benefit can be so vital.

Honduras Travel Tips

If you are in San Pedro Sula, the CEMESA medical facility is likely your best bet for finding high quality medical care.

In Tegucigalpa, one of the best choices for quality healthcare is Honduras Medical Center.

As of 2014, Honduras has one of if not the highest homicide rates in the world. As such, try to keep to safe areas with lots of people. Do not walk alone, especially when it is dark outside, and stay in traveler-friendly areas where there is a police presence.

At the same time, police corruption is fairly common in Honduras, so do keep this in mind.

Other crimes that commonly occur in Honduras and you should be wary of include armed robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping, home invasion and carjacking. However, it should be noted that tourists are not targeted in particular, but you should be cautious discussing your travel plans in public spaces.

Travelers are advised to have all relevant vaccinations before traveling to Honduras. These include malaria, rabies, yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, measles-mumps-rubella, tetanus, and other standard vaccinations.

While drugs are illegal in Honduras, drug trafficking and related crime are major issues in the country. For this reason, it would be best to avoid any contact with nationals in the drug trade while in country.

Do not leave food or drinks unattended, and be cautious when it comes to accepting food, drinks or cigarettes from strangers.

Mind your wallet or handbag carefully, as pickpocketing and bag snatching is not uncommon. Similarly, try not to grab attention with jewelry or other indicators of wealth.

Your passport must be valid for six months beyond your expected date of departure in order to enter Honduras. No tourist visa is needed for stays up to 90 days and no business visa is needed for stays up to 30 days. No student visa is ever required.

Hurricane season in Honduras runs from June through the end of November. Please remain informed of any potential problems that hurricanes could cause in the region.

For more information about traveling to Honduras, the Honduras health insurance plans that we offer, or to get a free plan comparison and price quotation, please contact us today.